Additional Information

Prof. Jennifer Frank is an instructor in the BSW and MSW programs at Millersville University. Prof. Frank is a licensed social worker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a member of NASW. Prof. Frank has extensive practice experience in the areas of poverty and homelessness. At the micro level, she has worked extensively with individuals experiencing homelessness in a variety of programs. At the mezzo and macro levels, she has worked in program development/implementation, program/staff supervision, as well as community work.

Prof. Frank has a strong interest in homelessness and poverty and the lived experiences of marginalized populations.

Prof. Frank took the lead in teaching the department’s new First Year Seminar course for newly admitted freshman social work majors, Perspectives on Poverty in America. This course utilizes innovating and experiential pedagogy to explore the diverse narratives regarding poverty with a focus on the personal experiences of those with first-hand knowledge. In the classroom, Prof. Frank enjoys creating an atmosphere of intense dialogue around pertinent and controversial issues of social welfare. A proponent of social justice, Prof. Frank seeks to engage students in broad thinking around issues at the macro level to create an environment conducive to social action and change.

Prof. Frank is active in the local community. She is a member of the Pathways out of Poverty group of Lancaster County as well as the Bridges Poverty Task Force. Prof. Frank is currently ABD in the Phd program at Bryn Mawr College. She is currently working on her dissertation entitled “System Building in Homeless Services” and hopes to graduate in December 2016.

Recent Scholarship, Publications and Presentations

Scholarship and Publications:

Frank, J. (2016). Homelessness in youth. Perspectives on Social Work, in press.

Rice, K., Foels, L., Frank, J., and Girvin, H. (2015). The Learning Institute: Promoting Social Justice Advocacy within a Continuing Education Program, manuscript submitted to Journal of Teaching in Social Work, November 2015. Revised and accepted May 2016. In press.

Frank, J., Girvin, H., and Granruth, L. (2015). “Bridging the Gap Together” Paper presented at the International Association of Social Work Groups Annual Conference, New York, NY in June 2016.

Frank, J. (2015). “Cultivating change agents: Developing self-efficacy as a pathway to social action” Presenting at the Museum of the City of New York’s 4th Annual Teaching Social Action in the Classroom National Conference, New York, NY, May 21, 2016.

Frank, J. (2015). “Challenging residential segregation along class lines as a feature of modern community.” Presented at The University of Memphis Social Work Symposium, Memphis, TN, April 15, 2016.

Frank, J. Cultivating Change Agents: Using a self-efficacy framework to engage students in social action. Presented at the Museum of the City of New York Social Activism Conference in New York, New York on May 21, 2016.

Frank, J. Challenging residential segregation along class lines as a feature of modern community. Presented at the University of Memphis Mid-South Family and Community Empowerment Institute, Rural and Urban Poverty and Its Effects on Health and Mental Health: Social Work Interventions in Memphis, TN on April 15, 2016.

Frank, J. System building in homeless services. Presented at the Learning Institute April event in Millersville, PA on April 13, 2016.

Frank, J.Engaging students in community action. Presented to the graduating social work class of SUNY/Fredonia on April 4, 2016.

Frank, J.Community Building for Supportive Services. Presented at the PHFA Regional Forum in Willow Street on March 30, 2016.

Frank, J.BSW Field Retreat Workshop. Presented for Field Instructors, Field Liaisons, and Students at Millersville University. Millersville, PA, January 2016.

Frank, J.Engaging social workers and students in community action. Presented at the NASW-PA yearly conference, State College, PA, October 2015.